Klarinet Archive - Posting 000805.txt from 1997/04

From: Ken Bryson <kbryson@-----.com>
Subj: Re: Discouraged
Date: Sat, 26 Apr 1997 08:07:03 -0400

ELYONS wrote:
>
> Hi.
>
> I am an older beginner on the clarinet and would like to purchase a top
> quality instrument right at the start. It appears, however, that the
> varied quality of even the best clarinets stands in my way.
>
> I have read both Stein's and Pino's books on the Clairnet, and frankly
> I'm discouraged about how to select a fine instrument.
>
> There are so many interelated variables: reed, mouthpiece, barrel,
> clarinet, and bell. From a statistical point of view, I find it
> doubtful that anyone could actually to evaluate so many variables with
> respect to judging a particular clarinet or part of a clarinet. The
> discussions in these books, and in some of the few e-mails I have
> received, give me the distinct impression that finding a good clarinet
> is purely a matter of chance.
>
> Is there no consensus on what the best makes and models are, and given a
> purchase of one of these and absent any glaring flaws, can't the player
> learn to adapt to his instruments idiosyncracies?
>
> Heeeeelllllllllppppppp!
>
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Ed Lyons ELyons@-----.net
>
> And Jesus said: "Come and eat breakfast."
> ---- John 21:12

Ed,

You haven't said if you are studying with a clarinet teacher. If you
are, your teacher is your best resource in finding a good instrument. I
think that what is needed more than anything else is the ability to
evaluate a clarinet before you purchase it--something that, as a
beginner, you can't be expected to do on your own. If you're not
working with a teacher, I would recommend that you try to locate a
compatible clarinet teacher soon. When I bought my first serious
clarinet, my teacher got 3 Buffet R-13's and helped me select the best
(for me) of the lot. It still had plenty of "idiosyncracies" for me to
cope with (it was, after all, a clarinet), but at least I was spared the
risk of spending a substantial sum and getting an inferior instrument
with a good brand name, thinking that the name alone was a guarantee of
top quality. Good luck.

Nancy